Top Film Events Of The Week: Lalo Schifrin, Sergio Leone & Brigitte Bardot

On Sunday, February 27, millions of film fans as well as bitchy people eager to make fun of celebrity wardrobes will watch the Academy Awards, the ceremony regularly hailed as the be-all and end-all of honors that can be bestowed upon films and filmmakers. Until then, however, there are six full days of great film watching available, and the best part is that you don't even have to watch the films being nominated – you can see whatever you want! Thankfully, many of the theatres and repertory houses across the country are engaging in their regular programming to make sure that cinephiles across the country are occupied with pictures that, well, if they don't maybe deserve gold statuettes, at the very least earn a permanent place in our hearts and minds.

But before we get to the stuff we think you should see up on the big screen, we would like to remind you to please leave comments and send in emails with any suggestions you may have for events, screenings, or other opportunities film fans may have to share with others in their celebration of the medium. Also, when and if you attend any of the events listed below, please let us know about your experiences, and let the organizers know where you found out about it!

Austin

On February 25 and 26, the reliably irreverent Alamo Ritz is screening none other than the science fiction classic 'Robocop,' albeit under the banner of the theatre's sendup-celebration society, Master Pancake Theatre. Most excitingly, there are not just one or two but four screenings, all of which at reasonable hours of the day, so make sure you check out the Alamo Ritz website for showtimes, ticket information and additional screening details.

Chicago

On February 22, check out a screening of Michael Haneke's brilliant, disturbing 'Cache,' a meditation on voyeurism and even the medium of film itself. The screening begins at 6:00 PM at the Gene Siskel Film Center, but make sure you check out the Eventful website for ticket information and additional screening details.

Dallas

Albeit not in the director's cinematic alma mater, Austin, Richard Linklater's fledgling directorial effort, 'Slacker,' is being screened on February 22 at The Texas Theatre. The screening begins at 7:30 PM, but make sure you check out The Texas Theatre website for ticket information and additional screening details.

Also on February 22 but on the other side of town at the Angelika Film Center, check out a screening of Frank Darabont's breakthrough masterpiece, his first Stephen King adaptation 'The Shawshank Redemption.' The screening also starts at 7:30 PM, so again, make sure you check out the Angelika Film Center website for ticket information and additional screening details.

Los Angeles

The good folks at the Silent Movie Theatre programmed a new film series entitled "Bardot A Go Go," and on February 22, they're screening the 1956 Roger Vadim classic (and I cannot stress classic enough) '...And God Created Woman.' The film starts more or less promptly at 8:00 PM, so make sure you check out the Cinefamily website for ticket information and additional screening details.

Also on February 22, as much because my talented buddy and colleague Devin Faraci would never forgive me as it absolutely deserves to be promoted, head over to the New Beverly Cinema for a double feature of freaked-out exploitation classics, 'The Black Six' and 'The Black Gestapo.' The first film begins at 7:30 PM, but make sure you check out the New Beverly Cinema website for ticket information and additional screening details.

On Wednesday, keep an eye out for a particularly special treat when the Egyptian Theatre plays host to a double feature of 'Dirty Harry' and 'Cool Hand Luke,' featuring composer Lalo Schifrin live in person to discuss his music with screenwriter Larry Karazewski ('Ed Wood,' 'The People vs. Larry Flynt') in between the films! The first screening begins at 7:30 PM but make sure you check out the Egyptian Theatre website for ticket information and additional screening details.

Meanwhile, over at the Egyptian's sister theatre, the Aero, check out a February 24th screening of one of Sergio Leone's greatest masterpieces, 'Once Upon a Time in the West.' It's actually part of an ongoing series of Leone films which culminates the following night with the amazing, brilliant 'One Upon a Time in Amerca,' but make sure you check out the Aero Theatre website for showtimes, ticket information and additional screening details.

If you didn't get to see the film during its brief theatrical run last year, head over to the Silent Movie Theatre on Friday, February 25 for an 11:59 PM screening of James Nguyen's 'Birdemic: Shock and Horror,' featuring appearances from Nguyen and actors Whitney Moore and Alan Bagh. The film also arrives on DVD and Blu-ray this week, but make sure you check out the Cinefamily website for ticket information and additional screening details.

San Francisco

And as their double-feature series of films by Christopher Nolan and David Fincher continues, visit the Castro Theatre on February 23 for a fairly glorious pairing of 'Zodiac' and 'The Dark Knight.' The double feature screens not once but twice, so make sure you check out the Castro Theatre website for ticket information and additional screening details.